Hope Skinner, founder Nanny Shecando

Children’s Birthdays: My Favourite Things

One of the best parts about being a nanny (in my opinion) is the children’s birthdays.

Birthdays have always been one of my favourite celebrations. Not for the material reasons, but as a time for family to come together and enjoy the moment. This year I was super excited to celebrate the birthdays with the kids I nanny for. Partly I think it’s the excitement and the party games and the pretty decorations. Hello balloon confetti! But mostly it’s because I feel incredibly privileged to be able to share in the special moments. Moments that are most often reserved just for family members.

Back in April we had a busy month. In the space of seven days we strayed from the norm for a non-traditional Easter egg hunt, did Anzac Day commemorations, and enjoyed four birthday celebrations. Yes, that’s right, I said four! Baby Viv turned one, Miss6 moved up to Miss7 and The Twins turned 12. Oh hey pre-teen adolescence stage, you’re going to be fun!

The week of endless cake and candles just happened to fall bang in the middle of school holidays. Whilst we tried to do most of the shopping online beforehand, I still found myself trawling the shops at the last-minute with a pram and a begrudging child. One of the more memorable items on the wish list had me fanatically trying to track down a particularly rare species of fish to match the aesthetic of the other fish already in the tank. Yep, true story. We also had to restock the elusive candles and matches, which had no doubt fallen victim to abyss that is “that cupboard” in the kitchen. I’m sure you have one too!

| “Making children’s birthdays special!”

This year the girls gave me quite a challenge for their birthdays. As well as the usual rattling off random items onto their wish list based on whichever ludicrous T.V. advert they’d just sen, I’d suddenly been promoted from nanny to cake pâtissier. Because apparently baking the trusty never-fail muffin recipe and banana bread each week implied that I was in fact a pastry chef. Of course I accepted the challenge with grace and gave it my best shot, although I don’t know if I’ll be volunteering my services for the task again next year. It might just be better to leave it up to the professionals.

So I know all of this happened way back in April, and ermahgerd we’re already in July. Seriously, how is it July already? My plans are way behind schedule and I’m freaking out! But just as I had the opportunity to share in the special family moments and celebrate the birthdays, and just as I have celebrated many milestones on seemingly ordinary days prior, I also want to invite you in and share these with you too. If only so I can get some feedback on where I went wrong with these epic cake fails!

1st Birthday Milestones

Baby fingers got to the icing before we could snap a picture!
Baby Viv’s 1st birthday was a pretty special moment for us. I’ve cared for this little precious girl since she was 7 weeks old and I’m thoroughly attached, perhaps overly! I was there when she first giggled, when she first could hold her head up and when she began scooting around on the floor. I was there that time she was feeling adventurous and fell off the couch giving me a heart attack!! And I’ve been there, day in day out, in the never ending battle of power over food and eating preferences. So it was truly special to be there to celebrate her 1st birthday with the family too.

We decided on a handbag cake for her special day. Baby Viv has long had a penchant for hand bags, sparkly things, pretty colours and anything that can be put over her head. From an early age she’d play with my scarf as I rocked her off to sleep and now that winter is here she’s enjoying them once again!

The 7th Birthday

Much to my panic and horror as I thought ‘how on earth am I going to make that?!’ Miss7 requested a puppy dog cake for her birthday. Miss7 and her puppy Beansie have a truly gorgeous relationship, and she and her sisters are very lucky to grow up with the benefit of pets. They truly provide so much love and care, not to mention responsibility. And I admit, I too am quite take with little isha-beansie-puppy-hat as she is lovingly referred to.

In the end I think the cake didn’t turn out too badly. Athough after 7 eggs, 1.5kg of flour, an entire evening in the kitchen, and a whole lot of chocolate icing I think I was happy to accept any attempt.

The Twins: Double Trouble Birthdays

A few days later it was time to don my chef hat once again to whip up something for The Twins. Thankfully they’d made it somewhat easy for me by requesting an old favourite; these Holey Moley Gooey Chocolate Brownies. I did make a short lived attempt to suggest that maybe brownies weren’t “birthday” enough, but I didn’t put up much a fight as they stood their ground. I did have fun with these though. Because given that we were all drowning in chocolate easter eggs (and by this stage completely done with gorging ourselves on birthday cake), I decided to melt some chocolate down to put into the brownies. The result was amazing, if I do say so myself. I threw some chocolate ganache and icing sugar of the top with some sprinkles and ta-da; the Birthday Brownie Cake was done!

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How do you make children’s birthdays special at your place? And is anyone else getting ready to live with teenagers?

Opening image, before edit: Poppytalk

This post is linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

Living With Intention

In my Year 12 HSC English exam I had a meltdown. Although at the same time, I also had a breakthrough. It was both terrifyingly scary and yet strangely welcome. Because at last I was getting somewhere with things. At last I was getting somewhere with myself. At last I was able to let the words flow. I wrote that HSC English exam like I’m sure no-one else has ever written an education and career defining exam. Why? Because at the end of the exam when the bored old man called “time” on 12 years of English schooling, I ripped it up and left it all behind.

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Living With Intention: Writing + Life’s Lessons

Given that I write this blog, it’s perhaps no surprise that I’m rather fond of words. And whilst I’m a very diligent person who enjoys structure and stability and the predictability that goes with a more rigid passion, I’ve always been a bit of a creative. Be it words, or music, or dance or craft – I just get it. I feel it. With words, it’s been a love since forever. I enjoy reading them, I enjoy writing them, I enjoy listening to them and I love speaking them.

I’ve been pinning quotes to a Pinterest board lately to keep me motivated. They’re usually in quirky typography, maybe decorated with a few flowers and occasionally accompanied by a fittingly “pun(ny)” 1 liner.

Blessed with a good memory to be able to place small details that help me remember exact locations, years, and moments, these words come in handy. I can remember where I read them, what I was doing, how I felt at the time, and the significance of those words on myself and others. These words have a dear place within me and serve as inspiration, either for future blog pieces here, for future stories made up on the spot to cheeky children resisting the call of sleep, or to be moulded into song lyrics with Miss7.

Starting this blog was a natural extension of my love for words. I discovered the benefit of uncovering a much-needed way to express myself through writing. I felt as though I needed to document my journey working with children as a nanny and as a way to offer helpful resources to other aspiring professional nannies and in-home childcare providers.

However, I wasn’t always so great with words. There was a time in my life that the words failed me. I was left with an empty black hole in my head, with nothing going on up there. Struggling with severe depression and an eating disorder, I went into my Year 12 HSC English exam and stared at a blank page. Granted I could count on one hand the number of times I’d attended an English class in the lead up to the exam, I sat in that exam unable to comprehend the question, unable to gather my thoughts and unable to eloquently convey anything remotely appropriate. Into the thick blank booklet that was ‘supposedly’ going to determine the outcome of the rest of my life (as many underwhelming teachers had unwittingly preached) I wrote nothing. Aware that this was going to draw unwanted attention, and to quell the rising panic in my head as I began to realise what failing to write the exam would no doubt mean for my future, I channeled by energy and instead wrote a story.

In my Year 12 HSC english exam I sat and wrote a creative writing piece. Not a creative writing piece to match the prompts like every other student. I wrote a piece from the heart I’d felt compelled to let forth. This story spilled out from my brain from where moments earlier there’d been a blank space of nothing. So I went with it. I went with it and for the better part of two long hours I frantically scribbled words down onto the page. Words I then tore out and pocketed as I exited the exam. Words that wouldn’t have gotten me very far in the world of Year 12 HSC english, but that I’ve since toted around with me everywhere. Words that occupy a special place inside of me, and inside my treasure box under lock and key amongst things like baby bracelets and my grandmother’s jewellery.

These words were not even written in the language I was most familiar with. They were not English. Because for two hours in what was supposedly to be one of the most important moments in my life, in where I was supposed to display just how well I understood and could apply the english language, instead I wrote in French.

Because in that moment, I accepted I was unable to complete the task at hand and instead dedicated my efforts to be more productive towards an alternate demand. I practiced intentional living. That same afternoon I was to sit my Yr 12 HSC French exam, and I was determined not to let the events of that morning transpire to psych me out of doing well in my other passions. I took that opportunity, a time in where I could have easily thrown it in and walked away from it all, and I kept going with intention.

Needless to say, I aced that French exam. As for English, well I still got my HSC, I still went on to university, and I still came out on top. The world did not end.

Fast forward the years and my direction in life has altered course to match my evolving ideals and wants. The common theme amongst it all has been the resounding resolve that I’m not a quitter. I know what I want and I go after it. I dedicate myself to what I must do to achieve, and I make it work. Much like that time in Year 12 when I was down and out, and things were holding me back from my full potential, I embrace the challenges and live with intention. I do what I can to come out on top!

And I’m glad I had that experience, those horrible blurred teenage years. For now I know what hard work is. Now I know what it’s like when the odds are stacked against you. Now I know just how much strength and courage it takes to ‘keep on growing’, and I know that I will get there.

As my creative side – my writing and reading and artsy-fartsy – collides with my rigid enjoyment of rules and structure to make a melange of business nouse, I know I’ve got the skills to go forth and conquer in my entrepreneurial endeavours.

So to have been nominated for another bloggers award (by the lovely Norah Colvin) – the Versatile Bloggers award – is another timely little reminder that I’m doing ok here. The fact that you come back each time to read my thoughts, to share in my experiences, and sometimes have a giggle is the biggest thank you and reminder that this is what I’m supposed to be doing and that writing is ‘one of my things.’

Have you ever struggled with something that’s held you back from your full potential?

image: Southern Charm

DIY Fun Kids Craft Activity Ideas

Kid Friendly and fun Craft Activity Ideas

Seeing as we’re well into the school holidays here in Australia, and those in America and Europe are enjoying their long drawn-out luxurious hot summer holidays, I thought I’d share a collection of kid friendly diy craft activity ideas here on the blog.

With four kids at home at the moment, I’ve been plucking at random ideas (and consulting Pinterest pretty heavily) for appropriate and fun things for the kids to do. Taking into account we’ve been staying indoors as it’s super cold outside and we’re trying to keep costs low as school holidays are expensive! Luckily, being all girls, we’re all pretty happy to spend a good chunk of the day with squiggly scissors and glitter!

Then again, these holey moley gooey chocolate brownies are pretty much the mother of all chocolate goodies and highly requested by all kids. Including 14month old bub who’s just discovered a hunkering for chocolate and treats! Plus, we re-worked a classic yummy berry muffin to incorporate some mushed bananas we found at the bottom of the fridge crisper and some Brookfarm muesli to make über rich caramel banana muesli muffins.. because hey, why not?!

For more fun craft activity ideas, you can check out my fun kids craft activity boards on Pinterest. There’s Working With Kids, Cooking For Kids, and DIY Craft For Kids. And if you’re not tuckered out by little hands and feet and want to get some super fun DIY crafting happening, there’s also a DIY Craft For Big Kids. Some great home, house & kitchen DIY tricks and neat ideas in there!

What have you been doing these school holidays? Do you have any tips, recipes, craft activity ideas or stories to share? Oh, tell me, muffin or cupcake kind of lover?

How To Get It All Done

“There will ALWAYS be more to do at the end of the day. By setting priorities for what truly matters to you and your family, you can go to bed knowing that you achieved what was necessary and important to you.”

Today I’m introducing you to Shannon from The Guilt Free Parent. Shannon is an American based nanny/mother extraordinaire and the founder of a website catered to helping out busy and stressed out parents; to which there are many! Today she’s sharing some helpful tips to help you tackle the never-ending to-do list and get your time management vs family balance under control.

How to Leave the Dishes & Still “Get It All Done”

I’m not alone when I say that managing our to-do lists is a never-ending battle. There are only so many hours in the day, but it feels like there’s never enough. Whether you’re comparing yourself to the other moms at your child’s school or the celebrity moms you see on the cover of People, it can be easy to feel like you’re behind before you even get started. With little ones running about, or having only a few hours to get a ton of things done before school lets out, just managing the household can seem impossible. Throw in work & afterschool activities and you’re faced with quite the challenge.

So how do you figure out what to do first and what can be left until later? And are there some things you can completely forget about to make things easier?

My usual to-do list is a mess! It’s got any number of tasks and not many that are realistically easy and achievable.

These are all things that I WANT to or feel like I SHOULD get done (in the 4.5 hours I have before work).

Having a list like this is a great start. It helps to visualise everything that’s running through your mind and get things into a working order. But it’s also a bit ambitious. I know that I’m being completely unrealistic with my expectations to complete it all.

A better plan of action would be to prioritize so that the things that NEED to be done, actually get done. To do this, I suggest dividing your list into two separate categories. So after writing up everything into your usual mile long list, divide it up into ‘What Absolutely HAS to be done BY ME today” and “Everything Else”. Small realistic goals each day are going to be much easier to achieve and leave you feeling accomplished by the time your head hits the pillow!

Category 1: “What absolutely HAS to be done BY ME today”

These are the things that if not done today will cause financial consequences or have a dire effect on your family’s well-being and happiness. They’re things that can’t be reassigned to someone else and can ONLY be done by you. For example, rent payments, health appointments, banking etc.

This is because although we often feel that everything has to be done by us right away, often if we really examine our list we can see that very few things have a do or die deadline. Not everything has to be done by ourselves! I admit, I really struggle with this concept; I mean, it’s just easier to do it myself).

Category 2: Everything Else

Yes, that pile of laundry is driving you crazy and has practically started it’s own twitter account (@neverfolded), but if it doesn’t get tackled today it won’t be the end of the world. This is where we can stretch our delegation muscles. So assign older children age-appropriate tasks; you’ll be surprised what they can do. Or get the whole household in on the spirit of being a team.

Together you are all responsible for the care and upkeep of the home you share. You may not feel that your kids need chores, but think about the last time you were still awake at midnight loading the dishwasher. Wouldn’t it be nice to head to bed without feeling utterly exhausted?

For example: laundry (unless there’s an event that REQUIRES an item be cleaned immediately), taking out the trash, organizing your freezer or making a detailed meal plan with shopping list full of organic, Paleo-approved items. Because let’s face it, ain’t gonna happen!

This new to-do list is such a more manageable list. I was able to get all of this done, and even managed to squeeze in some time to work on this here blog. The things on the right do need to be addressed, but none of it is going to be the end of the world if I don’t get to it immediately. This way I’m able to go to bed knowing that I did what was absolutely necessary for our family.

The 3 year old helping fold some laundry (he loved doing it too!).

As you get things done quickly and efficiently (since you’re not bogged down by a super long list) you may find that you have the time and energy to complete some items from Category 2’s side.

You may be surprised at how much more you’ll actually get done with this method. As an added bonus, the guilt of procrastinating on certain tasks will disappear because you’ll be tackling them first.

I wish you a week of feeling accomplished and unburdened. Send me an email and let me know how it turns out. And if not, I guess @neverfolded will be waiting!

How do you tackle the to-do lists in your house? Is it a winning or losing battle at the moment?

Shannon is a full-time nanny, newlywed, and founder of The Guilt Free Parent; a resource for busy and stressed out parents. After spending the past 7 years in the homes of several different families I’ve learned many great ways to help moms & dads stay organised. Tips to help reduce the stress that comes with trying to “do it all”. Whether you need a quick chat on Skype to fix the holes in your schedule, or you need someone to teach you how to get all of those toys organised, The Guilt Free Parent is the place for you. You can find her on social media @missnannyshanny, or on Tumblr here.

This post is linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT

Savoury Sweet Corn + Cheese Muffins

Put four kids and a nanny in the kitchen and what do you get? Chaos and mess!

Leave the nanny to finish cooking in the kitchen and let the kids ‘spread out’ into a compact 2 bedroom apartment and then what do you get? An even bigger mess!

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Recipe: Savoury Sweet Corn + Savoury Muffins

This was the scene I faced one day this past week. Boss Mum had been working from home and within an hour of attempting to wrestle the kids into a semblance of organised activity (and failing miserably), I decided the best option was to get them out of the house. A quiet environment would help Boss Mum meet her deadline, it would ensure the house stayed clean and tidy and it would do the kids good to have a change of scenery.

The only problem with this solution was that it was beyond cold outside. It was raining and due to gale force winds and sever weather warnings, people were advised to stay indoors. So it seemed the only remaining option was to pack the kids into the car and head off down the road to my house!

Seeing as they’d all been dying to have a play-date at “the nanny’s house” for a while now, and given I’d left a load of washing in the machine in my rush to get to work that morning, it seemed like a great idea. However, after an unfortunate accident with a glass of milk and a sofa and an explosion in the craft box that saw my carpets “glitter bombed”, I wasn’t sure why I’d thought it was a good idea to let four kids loose into a once neat and tidy 2 bedroom apartment.

We did have some fun though. In between fierce games of chess and scrabble, renditions of nursery rhymes on the piano, some serious crafting and a Disney movie, we did manage to get some cooking done. Thanks to my life-saver Thermomix and this Tomato Sausage Pasta recipe from Five Degrees Of Chaos (one of only a handful of things the kids will eat), we got dinner sorted and out-of-the-way. We then used the peaches and strawberries I’d snatched from the crisper on our haste to leave the house to re-work this Kid Friendly Yummy Berry Muffin recipe for a tasty afternoon snack.

By this point their attentions spans were waning and I’d been left alone in the kitchen to deal with the mess. As it turns out, and much to my good fortune, this meant I had some free time up my sleeve. So I played with a new recipe I’d had floating around in my ‘food brain’ for a while now.

These Savoury Sweet Corn + Cheese Muffins are the result, and despite the younger two kids not being true fans, they were big winners with the rest of us!